Soldiers arrive at the site of a military plane crash near the village of Ouled Gacem in eastern Algeria, about 311 miles from the capital Algiers, Feb. 12, 2014. Photo: REUTERS/Louafi Larbi

Twelve Algerian soldiers were killed Sunday after their helicopter crashed in the Sahara, the Defense Ministry reportedly said. Two others were also injured in the incident.

The Mi-171 helicopter crashed during a reconnaissance mission between the towns of Adrar and Reggan in the Tamanrasset region, the Associated Press said, citing the ministry’s statement. Authorities reportedly said the crash occurred due to a “technical failure.”

The statement also said that the vice-minister of defense and army chief of staff Ahmed Gaid Salah "immediately ordered that an enquiry be established to determine the causes of the accident," Agence France-Presse reported.

In February 2014, an army plane crashed in east Algeria, killing 77 people.